U.S., European societies release joint 3D echo guidelines
In a continuing trend of partnering among key societies, the European Association for Echocardiography and the American Society of Echocardiography have collaborated on guidelines for using 3D echocardiography. The recommendations are available online in the January issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography.

“I believe that real-time volumetric imaging using 3D echocardiography now provides a practical way to measure ventricular volumes and ejection fraction without making any assumptions about chamber geometry, and suspect that one day this imaging method will surpass current 2D echo imaging,” said Alan S. Pearlman, MD, a cardiologist at the University of Washington in Seattle and editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, in a statement.

The authors noted that technical advances in computing and transducers have made echocardiography a useful tool for evaluating cardiac volume and mass in the heart’s chambers, assessing left ventricular wall motion and viewing heart valves. The guidelines are designed to provide a practical guide to optimize the technology by offering standard practices for obtaining, analyzing and displaying cardiac structures using 3D echocardiography.

The document also explores the strengths and weaknesses of 3D echocardiography and its clinical applications. To access the guidelines, click here.

Candace Stuart, Contributor

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